Neck injury and chiropractors - JP Fitness Forums

rookie · 06-24-2006, 09:10 AM

So I am dealing with some sort of neck injury right now. During pullups on Friday I felt a shooting pain up the back of my neck that left me unable move my head and in a lot of pain. I went to a chiro/uppercervicle Dr. recommended by a coworker about an hour later. After x-rays and adjustments he says I have a subluxation of the c1/c2 which has been there for years and has allowed me to get injured. He can not offer and explanation as to why the pain and lack of ROM now though.AFter the adjustments thigns weren't much better and he said it wa the inflammation and he felt after a few more visits he could get it back in alignment.
I am very cycnical about chiro's. I am having a hard time belieing what he is telling me especially when he has yet to address the cause of the recent injury. I keep getting a lesson in spinal alignment and what it does to a body.
What are your thoughts?

I have taken several ibuprofen and right now am doing better but still in some pain. I just have to see how it goes and decide at the first of the week if I should go elsewhere.

russ · 06-24-2006, 12:28 PM

I don't have much doubt that Chiros can be helpful in the setting of the kind of injury that you have. The trick can be finding one who subscribes to a more 'evidenced based' paradigm. The "subluxation of the c1/c2 which has been there for years and has allowed me to get injured" is almost certainly bogus. Anyone who has discussed such matters with Chiros will know that there is little agreement among Chiros on what constitutes a Chiropractic subluxation (as opposed to the dictionary definition of subluxation, which is basically an incomplete joint dislocation). And an upper cercival Chiro will almost certainly diagnose a C1-2 subluxation is virtually every patient that he sees. That being said, you may find that spinal manipulation helps alleviate your pain.

The options would be to continue with the current guy (it may take a few weeks to see improvement), or attempt to find a different Chiro who tends towards an evidenced based approach towards manual treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. I don't know anyone in your neck of the woods, but I do know a few Chiros where I live that I would recommend to someone in your position. Another good option would be a Physical Therapist (my physio has been very helpful to me for several different injuries).

jj · 07-11-2006, 12:38 AM

I have a good experience with a chiro, I have a bad lower back with a 20 degree angle between my 3rd and 4th lumbar. However, it is something I will always have to go for because I have poor posture. I try to sit up straight, but I do a lot of sitting at my job, so I try to make a habit of getting up every 15-20 min. However, that doesn't help you any. Did he tell you any towel exercise's to help strengthen it back, or is it to early for that. I also have had a neck injury treated, however, if I don't get it adjusted at least once every 2-3 weeks I live in pain. Hopefully your injury is correctable and you get over it. But often neck injuries can nag you for a long time.

JJ

Dogmama · 07-11-2006, 06:03 AM

I recently (December) had a fusion of C4-C6 due to disc slippage into my spinal column. This is nothing to mess with. I would see an orthopedic surgeon to be evaluated. Chiros have their place. Mine made my neck worse.

Lisa~ · 07-11-2006, 08:32 AM

A good chiro can definitely help with this type of pain. And it usually does take several sessions initially before you start to see improvement. Ice it, go back, give the guy a chance to help you.

That being said, there are good and bad chiro's out there just like there are good and bad doctors. So if you don't think you've found a quality practitioner, maybe it's time to search for someone else. But you've only been once. I think you're going to change your mind after a few sessions.

I have been helped by a couple of chiropractors and think that when the issue is your spine, that they are the specialist of choice.

Lisa